Guest Blog by Emma Lawson

Spending a weekend with a partner or a group of friends is awesome, but what about your furry friend at home? Your dog too deserves to join you on your adventures, and make them even better and more fun. The best thing about it? You don’t even have to go anywhere, your pet will be thrilled by the mere fact you’ve decided to dedicate the entire weekend to your bonding. Spending the entire weekend with your best friend has some challenges, though. Like, what are you going to do, where you will go and what exactly makes a perfect dog-owner bonding weekend. Let us try to address some of them and help you organize a dream-like weekend for you and your dog.

Travel Somewhere
Dogs are not so big on travel, but they do like to ride in the car if the distance isn’t overwhelming. And if you manage to find some great location in nature to allow your dog to run out, he’ll be thrilled. When searching for the destination, make sure the hotel you are going to stay in is pet-friendly. Search beyond the pet-friendly label, and find out whether the hotels are offering amenities like food and toys for your pet, and if you really want to make the weekend all about pampering keep your eyes open for beds, blankets, quality food and gift baskets.
Go Hiking

Hiking is a fun and healthy activity for both you and your canine companion, so there is no doubt that you two will have unforgettable time together. Before you go, you should ask about the park’s regulations. Some national parks don’t allow dogs on the trails, so it’s better not to be caught by surprise. If you’re going for a longer hike you should pack first-aid kit, food, water and poop bags.
Camp Together
A dog can never get enough of nature, and you’ll also benefit from the fresh air. You can go camp in the woods or by a lake/river. Now, you’re probably wondering how you two are going to sleep in the open. A tent is a must, but both of you need to feel comfortable – you to get enough energy for the day after, and your dog to avoid being nervous and tense. Comfy Cloud9 Lounges are a neat way for both of you to get some rest, and they’re equipped with handy features like a bottle opener and an iPad pocket.
Teaching New Tricks
It’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks. In fact, sometimes it’s even easier to teach an adult dog new tricks, since he’s already used to you, trusts you and obeys you. You can try to do it by yourself by following tips you find online or take your furry friend to a dog training center, so that both of you can get some useful instructions.
A Glam Weekend
You can devote your weekend together to get your dog “all dressed up”. First, give them a nice bubbly bath (cuddling included), and follow it up with a haircut. A new collar would go perfectly with the new hair, don’t you think? And when you are done with all the pampering, it is the ideal time for a doggy photoshoot. Document your companion’s cuteness with a DSLR camera and display the photos on the wall later, or take some shots for the Instagram, and earn more canine-loving followers.

Just Play
There’s nothing your dog would love more than to spend an entire weekend simply playing with you in the backyard. So, take a Frisbee, a ball or even a simple stick and play fetch. If your dog doesn’t know how to play fetch yet, well, you have two days to teach them.
Remember that the most precious time for your dog is the one he spends with you, so get out there and get some furry fun.